They don't like it up 'em!

I have always enjoyed the film Zulu (1964) . A military precursor to the disaster films of the 1970s, this boy's own adventure has the usual mixed bag of characters (quiet, thoughtful hero, snobby toff, thief-with-a-heart and a score of hymn singing Welshmen) and pits them against 4000 angry Zulus in 1879 South Africa. Who will survive? and how?....., it is an age old story, which works wonderfully under director Cy Endfield's deft hand.

Watching my Christmas remastered edition of the film has been greatly satisfying! as some of the set pieces have now worked themselves into movie history. Who can forget the Welsh soldiers (led by actor Ivor Emmanuel (pic) in their scarlet tunics belting out "Men of Harlech" in reply to the Zulu war chants; Nigel Green's underplayed and lugubrious Colour Sergeant and of course John Barry;s thundering musical score. (Perhaps his best African score - ok I also love his music to Born Free and Out of Africa). the film is the stuff of movie legend.

Zulu still keeps you interested after three hours of stiff upper lip and has been ideal for a rainy Friday afternoon.

I also have the box set of Hitchcock films to watch at some stage (Xmas Pressie from Sorrel)......excellent!

Found a couple of huge dead rats in their runs behind the compost heaps this morning, which is satisfying! I have cleaned out the coops and moved the whole electric perimeter fencing to allow the birds new grazing.The weather has been mild but it feels more wintery today than of late. Chris has spent the day reading and watching some sort of Disney film about female figure skaters!

Home

The journey back to Wales was easy, compared to the outward trip. We were back locking the hens up at three pm! Meg and William, as is usual for a stay in kennels, fell asleep minutes after getting into the car, and will remain asleep for the rest of the day. (a product of 6 days without sleep)
Chris has arranged his Christmas gifts in a suitable design in the spare bedroom (he photographed them Boxing day as per usual) whilst I pottered around putting gifts and food away.
Stone cat ( a pressie from Chris' Brother and Sister-in-law) was dutifully ensconced into the garden (pic), the fire lit and left over bubble and squeak is ready to be pan fried for tea! Nice to be home

As usual Christmas does not prevent the sad world news such as the killing of
Benazir Bhutto or the stabbing of Sue Goswell by her mentally ill husband from happening; but for once you really hope it would

Boxing day

Socialising can be pretty tiring.We have had a day of party games (guess the intro! ad nauseum) cold meats and my pickled shallots ( very tasty) and a family walk to Broadstairs harbour and hot chocolate at Ballards (pic).

Chris has loved his first family Christmas in a long time, and as usual Sorrel has bent over backwards in looking after us.

Long journey back tomorrow with the Belingo filled to the gunnel's. For me,tomorrow means the total finish of the Yuletide season. Cards will be taken down and the pressies put away, back to normality.

We have had a peacefull Christmas. However I have just read the Sheffield forum entry on "who has had a row this Christmas?" some very funny, others quite moving.......It's like anything, real life is better than anything Eastenders have to offer! http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=289526

Queen's Speech 2007 (The Royal Wii)

v v funny
ENJOY

Broadstairs Baubles

Familys always do Christmas in slightly different ways. They have their own traditions and share the same in- jokes and histories, and that fact in turn often proves to be the cement that actually makes Christmas the most "loved" of celebrations for most people.
Today I have missed my own traditions and in-jokes especially with sisters Ann and Janet, but I have had a nice Broadstairs time with the Burtons and the Brownings!
The meal was outstanding, the company relaxed and happy and we even had Gethin prancing around in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special!
Got home at 10.30 and watched some of the awful Love Actually (2003) ...I did love Emma Thompson's bitter sweet performance as a wife scorned though! .....very VERY moving!

Happy Christmas Everyone xx Hope you all had a good one

Christmas Eve Redundancy

Today I have not felt so nicely redundant since I was a child. Usually Christmas Eve at home is a panic of last minute shopping, making lists ( and crossing off things done which is always done with great satisfaction!), tidying and cooking. This year in Broadstairs everything has been done for me! Coffee when I woke up, lunch made for us (although I only ate bread as my guts are still playing up!). This afternoon we have walked to Broadstairs with the dogs, had a hot chocolate at Morelli's and are now sat in a comfortably warm lounge watching tv.

I do feel rather guilty at not being "busy", as well as experiencing that no-man's-land feeling of Christmas Eves as we experienced when we were Children. Parents out buying the gifts, Janet and I, killing time in front of the tree watching Jason and the Argonauts (1963) or The Railway Children (1970) . It was always a tradition. Today, with Jenny Agutter back on the tv, I am revisiting it once again ! (and it still moves me when Jenny shouts "daddy!....my daddy!!!!!!" as she gallops down the railway platform

(above Sorrel with her open mouth smile lets Chris cut the meat--- is it wise given the fact he hasn't had a fag for several hours!)

Alesha beats Matt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank the Lord!

Matt is out ! and Gethin (bless his little face) should have been in the final! Britain collectively ( and in a fit of peak) realised that the Welsh Bombshell had been robbed of his place in the final and Alesha should not loose out with that little Eastend child winning the sympathy vote, so it was finally sorted that the Best Woman Won!

Personally, I thought that the best laugh of the night was when a knock kneed Kate Garraway asked the audience to vote for her!

A Kent Christmas

Well I am glad that I took the family photo on the left, so the lens would not capture a rather wan and sickly looking individual that was me all day yesterday. Minutes after this photo was taken I had to give my excuses and make a hasty exit home to have a rather large and undignified vomit.
The gastric bug Is still unfortunately with me, and today I have slightly overdosed on Imodium so that there would be no embarrassing "accidents" on the way to Broadstairs.
In the end we loaded up the Belingo with a ton of pressies, George and Maddie, a few bin bags of clothes and easily grabable paracetamol and spent an awful 8 hours negotiating fog,traffic jams and unfamiliar roads to finally get to Sorrel's house at 6pm. (Yes the photo of me looks rather worried)
We had a lovely welcome with homemade mince pies,fish pie and lots of Christmas trimmings, even the Scotties made themselves at home within minutes.Tomorrow we are spending in and around Broadstairs, and catching up with Richard (Chris' Dad) for dinner tomorrow night.